Clothes hangers

ABSTRACT

A clothes hanger ( 1,2, 2 X) comprising one, two or more planar elements together defining a hanger shape for suspending a garment, at least one of the planar elements having an opening ( 5, 7 B,  7 D) an indicating element ( 9 ) or other information element, and movable into a position, retained between the planar elements, in which position at least one marking on the indicating element ( 9 ) may be visible through said opening ( 5, 7 B,  7 D). The indicating element ( 9 ) may bear a plurality of different markings and may be movable into different such positions in which a different one or ones of the markings is or are visible through the opening ( 5, 7 B,  7 D). The indicating ( 9 ) element may be insertable between the planar elements through a hole ( 6 ) in one of said elements or through a gap between said elements at the edge of the hanger. There is also provided attachable shoulder-pieces ( 21  A,  21  B,  46 R,  46 L) which may be moulded or made from one or more layers of material to provide a contoured support for a garment.

The present invention relates to apparatus for hanging items ofclothing, which may be for the purposes of display, retail, or storage.

Companies are constantly seeking to encourage people to purchase theirgoods, and to encourage existing customers to purchase more. They arealso constantly looking for interesting ways of presenting both theirproducts and the imagery related to them. Furthermore, companies areconstantly looking for new ways to promote these products, and thereforethere is a constant demand for the kind of display apparatus which willnot only provide the best way of showing them, but enhance and promotethe products by providing an impression of quality and value.

With clothing, for example, which is being offered for sale in a modernretail environment, a hanger is an important ‘point-of-sale’ ('POS')tool, which may be provided with features which can show a garment inits best possible aspect, so it needs to be both attractive andfunctional. The combination of quality and attractiveness with low-costis almost always part of the requirement of any Point-Of-Sale artifactwhich often may not itself earn revenue. Another consideration emergingin the modern business sector, is a growing requirement to provideproducts which are environmentally friendly, and sustainable, in theirmanufacture, recycling and disposal.

Currently most clothes-hanging apparatus is made from moulded plastic,and requires industrial processes, which are far from eco-friendly. Withregard to a hanger which may be made from a variety of materials, forexample, in layers cut out from sheets of material, e.g., paper, metal.plastic or any material which comes in sheet form, a number ofpossibilities exist for the development of not only the hanger but theadditions and extensions which most users would find useful andbeneficial especially in the retail environment. Additionally, there arenumber of ways in which extensions might be developed, and attached toor made integral to the hanger, in order to enhance its role across anumber of aspects, and as a communications tool.

According to the present invention therefore, there is providedapparatus designed to hold, store and display clothing, which falls intodifferent formats. In the present embodiments, the apparatus comes in anumber of different configurations, comprising developments whichprovide variable size indicators or other information, contouredshoulders, and extensions which provide different types of support andstrengthening.

From a first aspect, the present invention provides a clothes hangercomprising one, two or more planar elements together defining a hangershape for suspending a garment, at least one of the planar elementshaving an opening, an indicating element, or other information element,and movable into a position, retained between the planar elements, inwhich position at least one marking on the indicating element may bevisible through said opening. The indicating element may bear aplurality of different markings and may be movable into different suchpositions in which a different one or ones of the markings is or arevisible through the opening. The indicating element may be insertablebetween the planar elements through a hole in one of said elements orthrough a gap between said elements at the edge of the hanger. Theindicating element may be formed from a portion of one of the planarelements that has been removed or cleared from the materials from whichthe hanger profile has been cut, or it may be made separately.

From a second aspect, the invention provides a clothes hanger having amain part of substantially planar form and including shoulder pieceseach having a curved outer shell and at least one internal rib arrangedtransverse to the main part, an indent in one of the ribs and the mainpart engaging with the other of the rib and the main part.

From a third aspect, the invention provides a shoulder piece forattaching to a substantially planar clothes hanger, the shoulder piececomprising at least one substantially planar sheet arranged to lie onone side of the hanger transversely to the hanger, and having anengaging formation for engaging the hanger. The engaging formation maycomprise a slot adapted to receive an upper edge of the hanger.Alternatively, the engaging element may comprise a tab cut out from theshoulder piece and engaging a slot in the hanger. The shoulder piece maycomprise a plurality of planar sheets of similar shape but ofsequentially increasing size, with a smallest sheet at a top of theshoulder piece and a largest sheet at a bottom thereof. Alternatively,the shoulder piece may include cuts or slots allowing the assumption ofa shape corresponding to a shoulder. In one embodiment, the cuts orslots run generally parallel to an outer periphery of the shoulder pieceand define inner peripheries of sequentially decreasing size. In anotherembodiment, the cuts or slots extend generally radially as far as theperiphery of a shoulder part of the shoulder piece. A pair of shoulderpieces according to this fourth aspect of the invention may be joinedtogether at a narrow end of each of the shoulder pieces to from acombined unit for fitting over both sides of a hanger.

From a fourth aspect, the invention provides a clothes hanger comprisingtwo planar elements arranged vertically, joined at the top, with anumber of sections projecting downwards from the base, between which areset sprung grippers, which project downwards and clamping by means ofexerting a clamping force between said elements so as to clamp a garmentto suspend it therebetween

From a fifth aspect, the invention provides a hook for suspending aclothes hanger that includes at least one through hole, the hook beingformed from a continuous length of material that has an upper hookportion and a lower curved portion arranged to extend through the atleast one through hole in a generally horizontal direction.

The FIRST embodiment is a basic hanger shape, including a horizontalaperture cut out just above the base, and stopping short of the outeredges to form beneath it, a crossbar upon which may be hung additionalitems. The shape is defined one or more layers of material, which may bepaper, board, plastic, metal or any suitable material. For the purposesof simplicity, three layers are indicated, but it could be more or less.The drawings in this configuration describe a basic method ofconstructing the hanger, and show the profile of each layer prior tobeing attached or glued together. With the combination of a number ofsheets of material, it is possible to incorporate within the innerlayer, a cut out section, which may be of a circular shape, held betweenthe two outer layers. When the layers are attached together by gluing orany other means, a recess within the body of the hanger may be createdin a number of ways. In one embodiment the recess has been cut into thecentre-panel, and in others the recess may be formed by excavation ofmaterial from the surface of one or more layers, or bypressure-embossing one or more layers, such that a recess extending tothe edge of the hanger allows a disc or card or tab of some kind to beinserted or withdrawn. The card or disc may carry information of onekind or another, perhaps in the case of a disc, around thecircumference, for example, size information, which may be visiblethrough apertures cut into the outer panels. The disc may freely rotatebetween the two surfaces and maintain its position by being held in situby the surrounding material. In other embodiments, recesses have beeneither cut out from, excavated or pressure embossed into one or morelayers, with access holes through which a number of information bearing‘tabs’ or cards of any shape may be inserted into and withdrawn from therecess in such a way that information on the tabs may be viewed throughapertures cut into the surface of one or more of the panels.

In the SECOND embodiment, a standard hanger format has been added to, toform shoulder-pieces, or one conjoined shoulder-piece, covering bothshoulders, joined at the centre, which may be made or moulded from anysuitable material, allowing for multiple use of the basic apparatusinsofar as the same device may be used to hang a shirt, or a dress orany garment requiring a better definition at the shoulder, such as ajacket or suit-coat. The shoulder-pieces in this embodiment consist ofan outer shell with one or more ‘ribs’ or formers set across the width,each having within them a vertical aperture extending from near the topof the former, to the base where it is left open. These apertures willbe in line and made to a width corresponding to the thickness of thehanger to which they attach at the top outer edge of each shoulder ofthe hanger. The shoulder-pieces may also be made able to move inwards oroutwards, and held in situ by one or more indents cut into the hangeralong the top-edge of the shoulder, such that any of the formers mayengage with the indent to keep it stationery.

In the THIRD embodiment, another type of shoulder-piece, this time aflat piece of material has been utilised. It may either be flat, orconfigured in such a way that it responds to the weight of whichevergarment or material is hung upon it, to form a shape corresponding to amoulded or pre-formed shoulder-piece. Of the two examples shown here,one has a series of cuts around the circumference of the outer edge,which continue around the edge and for a distance towards the neck ofthe hanger, which form a series of bands which run around the outer endof the shoulder piece attached at either end. This shoulder-piece may beattached to the hanger by means of one or more tabs which fold downwardsalong a perforation or fold-line, and which may be inserted into acorresponding aperture, or apertures cut out from an inner layer in amulti-layer constructed hanger. There may be a number of aperturescorresponding to a number of tabs, such that the distance from the‘neck’ of the hanger may be varied. Alternatively, the tabs may be setacross the shoulder-pieces and inserted into indents transversing theedge of the hanger shoulder. The second example of the flatshoulder-piece is cut at its outer end, in a ‘flower’ configuration,i.e., a series of ‘V’ sections cut around the radius of a semi-circularcentre, radiating outwards to form a series of ‘petals’ which benddownwards when a weight is placed upon them, such as a garment, andwhich provides the rounded profile as in a human shoulder.

The FOURTH embodiment is of the ‘gripper’ type, providing two or morepanels of the same, or of a similar shape and joined at the top. Alongthe bottom edge, extensions protrude downwards, and on the inner surfaceof each of those extensions and attached to both surfaces, sprunggrippers are fixed. The grippers, of course may be mounted simply alongthe bottom edge without extensions. In this embodiment the commonspring-assisted clothes peg has been utilised, and set in pairs withineach of the two projections, such that when pressure is applied to theupper sections the ‘jaw’ created by the pegs opens to grip whatever isinserted. It will be appreciated that any number of these grippers maybe utilised, and applied to other embodiments of the hanger.

The FIFTH embodiment does not require any kind of layering or recesseswithin the main hanger body, and may be solid. The hanger body iscreated, like previous embodiments, minus an integrated support hook,but with a series of apertures or holes drilled, cut or formed, throughthe top, central section of the hanger, equidistant from the centre andrunning downwards. There may be one, two or more of these apertures orholes, and if there were more, these may be configured in rows, parallelto each other, but ‘staggered’ so that one row was set at a lower levelthan the other, the vertical distance between the apertures possiblybeing equal on both sides. Next, a hanger hook which may be made in anysuitable material, e.g., metal wire, which is configured at the lowerend, to form a coil similar to a corkscrew which may have a small‘pommel’ slightly wider than the wire, at it's lower end. The lower, or‘pommel’ end of the ‘coil’ is first passed through the aperture or holeclosest to the top of the hanger, and the hook and coil turned aroundits vertical axis, so that it effects a downward spiral movement, in themanner of a corkscrew. Turning the hook and coil further around thevertical axis will cause the lower end or pommel to approach theaperture across from, and slightly lower than the first, and then toenter that aperture, and continue, if the turning is sustained, to thenext aperture on the other side, set again, slightly lower than the oneit has just passed through. The number of apertures or holes may bedetermined by whatever design is adopted, and the pommel at the lowerend of the corkscrew part, may be stopped when there are no more holes.

In the SIXTH embodiment, the invention provides a shoulder piece forattaching to a substantially planar clothes hanger, the shoulder piececomprising one or more substantially planar sheets arranged to lie onone side of the hanger transversely to the hanger, and having anengaging formation for engaging the hanger. The engaging formation maycomprise a slot adapted to receive an upper edge of the hanger. Theshoulder piece may comprise a plurality of planar sheets of similarshape but of sequentially increasing size, with a smallest sheet at atop of the shoulder piece and a largest sheet at a bottom thereof. Inthe embodiment described here, the layers are configured symmetricallyto form two shoulder-pieces, one right, one left, with the inner endsattached to a central panel, which itself is configured with horizontalperforations or creases designed to fold in such a way that eachsuccessive layer aligns to form the desired contour. The two shouldersmay also be made as a single piece, the two shoulders being joined inthe centre and slipped onto the hanger as a single attachment. In thepresent embodiment the fold is configured in the manner of a concertina,or ‘Z-fold’, but they may also be folded ‘over-&-over’ in a ‘rolling’format. When the layers are attached, perhaps by a form of gluing, thecentral panel, which will at this stage also be in a ‘concertina’configuration may be detached along the perforations, or cut offmanually. The finished shoulder pieces may then be attached to the topedge of the hanger, by glue or simply by creating the gutter in theshoulder-pieces so that it grips the hanger-edge tightly. A slight curvemay be incorporated into the gutter to create an even stronger grip.

An alternative method of production is where the profiles of each layerare cut out from a sheet in rows with the panels of the base layer setas close as possible to the panels from a top layer on the same sheet,in the manner of ‘stalactites & stalagmites’ in a cave. Each successivesheet will build both upwards from the base layer, panels which diminishin size until the top panel is reached, while the small top panel willhave panels of an increasing size dropped on top until the base layer isreached. This method may be more economic with the use of material.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way ofexample with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows how three layers are configured, with a recess in thecentre-layer being left empty.

FIG. 2 shows one layer of a two-layer hanger where a recess has beenexcavated or pressure-embossed into one surface

FIG. 3 shows how two layers are configured prior to gluing

FIGS. 4 & 5 show two layers each with recesses prior to being joinedtogether

FIG. 6 shows the hanger incorporating the view window and the insertionindent and the disc to scale

FIG. 7 shows the disc (enlarged)

FIG. 8 shows how the disc is inserted

FIG. 9 shows the disc in situ with the information showing in the viewwindow

FIG. 10 shows the configuration of three layers of a hanger withtab-access slits, recess and viewing-windows

FIG. 11 shows the ‘tab’

FIGS. 12 & 13 show how tab is inserted/withdrawn

FIGS. 14-19 show a different type of tab & how it is deployed in thesame hanger

FIGS. 20-25 show another position for the recess/viewing window withanother kind of tab which may be viewed from the side as well as thefront

FIG. 26 shows the elevation of a hanger with shoulder-pieces in situ

FIG. 27 shows a plan and elevation of the shoulder-piece

FIG. 28 shows an interior view in plan

FIG. 29 shows a cross-section of shoulder-piece showing interior formersor struts

FIG. 30 shows interior view of shoulder-piece

FIG. 31 shows how hanger would look with shoulder-pieces in situ, inperspective

FIGS. 32-33 show how a ‘layered’ hanger is configured to provide a slotin the shoulder

FIG. 34 shows two types of format for a flat shoulder-piece withinsertion-tabs

FIG. 35 shows how tab inserts into slot on hanger

FIGS. 36-37 show a sprung-gripper in the closed and open position(clothes-peg)

FIG. 38 shows one side of grip-hanger with glue-area cross-hatched

FIG. 39 shows other side with grippers in situ

FIG. 40 shows how grippers are deployed

FIG. 41 shows hanger in use

FIG. 42 shows ‘corkscrew’ type of hook

FIG. 43 shows hanger configured to receive hook

FIG. 44 shows how hook is attached to hanger

FIG. 45 shows completed hanger with hook in situ

FIG. 46 shows in plan the configuration of layers which will form theshoulder pieces

FIGS. 47 & 48 show two stages of folding the configured layers

FIG. 49 shows the result of the folding and gluing with the centralpanel appearing on either side of the inner ends of the shoulder pieces.

FIG. 50 shows the detachment of the folded central panel

FIGS. 51 & 52 show a left and right shoulder piece made from layers

FIGS. 53 & 54 show the underside with the gutter running along the basefrom end to end

FIG. 55 shows an elevation of the shoulder pieces in situ on the hanger

FIG. 56 shows the same viewed from above

FIG. 57 shows three panels, each with a bottom and top layer of theshoulder piece, an intermediate panel with the central layers, and thethird panel with a top and bottom layer

FIG. 58 shows in 3D, how the three panels are configured to form thecontoured shoulder piece

FIG. 59 shows the sheets incorporating the different layers are droppedonto one another with the sheets below appearing as dotted lines

FIG. 60 shows the finished shoulder pieces

According to FIG. 1, a flat hanger 1, is made from three layers X,Y,Z,of suitable material incorporating in the centre-layer Y, a cut-out area3 which when the layers are combined will create a recess 3, open at thelower edge. In FIG. 2, a two-layer configuration shows how a recess 8may also be formed by partial excavation by a router of some kind, or bypressure-emboss, which incorporates a window on either one or bothlayers A,B of the apparatus 1, through which any information on anycard, tab or booklet which is placed within the recess 4, may be viewed.FIGS. 4 & 5 show a different configuration of the hanger 2, withrecesses formed on the inner surfaces of two layers C, D prior to theirbeing joined together, providing for a deeper recess 8C, 8D when the twoare brought together.

FIG. 6 shows an elevation of a completed hanger 1, 2, 2X. (All theconfigurations 1, 2, 2X work in the same way) and a disc 9, to scale,with information around the outer surface of the circumference. FIG. 7shows a larger view of the disc 9. In FIG. 8 the disc 9 is shown beinginserted into the aperture 6 from below, and FIG. 9 shows theinformation as it may appear in the viewing window 5, 7B & 7D. FIG. 10shows a three layer A, B, C configuration of the hanger 10 with a recess13 cut out from the centre-layer B, and on the outer layers A, Caccess-slits 11A, 11C and viewing windows 12A and 12C respectively. FIG.11 shows a tab 14, which may have information on one or both sides andFIG. 12 shows the tab 14 inserted into the access slit 11A and theinformation as it would appear in the viewing window 12A. FIG. 13 showsthe obverse. FIGS. 14 & 15 show the same hanger 10, but with a differenttab 15, (FIGS. 15,16) This tab 15 also has information on both sides,but folds in the middle either way to reveal more than two pieces ofinformation. The tab 15 is inserted through one access slit 11A throughthe recess 13 through the access slit 11C on the other outer panel. Whenthe tab 15 is halfway through, it is pushed inwards and downwards intothe recess 13 so that the information may be viewed through eitherviewing window 12A, 12C, as shown in FIGS. 18, 19. In both cases, theouter ends of the tabs 15, may protrude from the access-slits 11A, 11Cto facilitate removal/replacement. A recess may also be formed byexcavation or pressure-emboss. FIGS. 20-25 show a differentconfiguration where a recess 19 may be located at the edge of the hanger16, and where the tab 17 may be folded into three sections each bearinginformation which may be viewed through viewing windows 18, 18A, andadditionally, when the tab 17 is inserted into the recess 19, thecentral section between fold-lines X-X, and Y-Y is visible from theside, as shown in FIG. 25.

FIG. 26 shows a standard hanger 19 with contoured shoulder-pieces 21A,21B, attached to the shoulders or upper edges of the hanger 19. FIG. 27shows one of those shoulder pieces 21A in plan, (upper) and in elevation(lower). FIG. 28 shows a plan view through the shoulder piece 21Aincluding the interior formers 22A, 23A, 24A with the dotted line of thehanger 19 showing where it attaches.

FIG. 29 shows in elevation the view through the hanger 19, with thedotted line of the hanger 19 indicating where the shoulder-piece 21Aattaches to the hanger 19. FIG. 30 is an oblique inside-view of theother shoulder-piece 21B set upon the other shoulder of the hanger 19showing in dotted-line how the top-edge of the hanger is straddled bythe formers 24B, 23B, 22B into which are cut slots corresponding to awidth of the thickness of the hanger 19. In FIG. 28 the top edge of thehanger 19 beneath the attached shoulder-piece 21A has cut out from it anumber of slots 25, which can engage with a former 23A, to secure theshoulder-piece 21A along the length of the of the top-edge of the hanger19. A number of these slots 25, would allow the shoulder-piece 21A to befixed securely at a number of points along the top-edge of the hanger19, and to be moved inwards or outwards depending on the size of thegarment. FIG. 31 is an oblique view looking downwards on the front ofthe hanger 19, showing the shoulder-pieces 21A, 21B in situ.

FIG. 33 shows a three-layer hanger 26 may be configured to form recesses27A, 27B, which may be cut into the central layer at the top edge ofeach shoulder indicated in FIG. 32 by dotted lines.

FIG. 33 shows the configuration of the layers of the hanger 26 prior toattaching or gluing, where the recess 27A, 27B on each shoulder.

FIG. 34 shows two versions of a flat shoulder piece 28A, 29A configuredto depress to form a rounded shoulder when hung with a garment.

Of the two examples shown here, one 28A has a series of cuts around thecircumference of the outer edge, which continue around the edge and fora distance towards the narrow end of the shoulder-piece 28A, to form aseries of concentric rings 32A, each of which tracks around the curve atthe outside edge, roughly parallel to each other, terminating a shortdistance along the length of the shoulder-piece 28A, but remainingattached, and leaving a centre section 32C projecting outwards butcontained within the centre of the rings 32A. The other shoulder-piece29A is cut at its outer end, in a ‘flower’ configuration 33A, i.e., aseries of ‘V’ cuts radiating outwards from a semi-circular centre 33C,to form a series of ‘petals’ 33A.

Each of the shoulder-pieces 28A, 29A may have cut from along its length,one or more ‘tabs’ 30A, 31A which remain attached along the length at afold A-A, B-B, which when folded downwards as shown in FIG. 35, may beinserted into the recess 27A cut into the shoulder of the hanger 26. Itwill be appreciated that each shoulder-piece, 28A, and 29A, areright-side, and the left-side will be identical ‘mirror-images’ of eachother and work in precisely the same way on each side.

This apparatus 35A,B, is of the ‘gripper’ type, providing two panels35A, 35B, of the same shape and joined (FIGS. 40,41) at the hook andneck 36A,B. Along the bottom edge, (FIGS. 38&39) extensions 37A, 38A,37B, 38B, protrude downwards, and on the inner surface of each of thoseextensions 37A, 38A, 37B, 38B attached to both surfaces are sprunggrippers 34. Cross-hatch lines show the glue-areas at the hook/neck 36A,36B, and on the areas to which the grippers 34 are attached 37A, 38A,37B, 38B. FIG. 39 shows the grippers 34 in situ on the inner surface ofpanel 35B. In this embodiment the common spring-assisted clothes peg 34(FIGS. 36, 37) has been utilised. FIGS. 38 & 39 show both panels, 35A,35B and grippers 34 in situ, prior to attaching together. FIG. 40 showsthe apparatus 35A,B in it's completed form and how the grippers 34 areopened by applying pressure (indicated by arrows) to the top end suchthat when pressure is applied to the upper sections (FIG. 40) the ‘jaw’created by the pegs 34 opens to grip (FIG. 41) whatever is inserted, inthis case a pair of pants 39.

FIGS. 42-45 show an alternative support hook 40, being applied to anadapted hanger 41. In FIG. 42 the support hook 40 is shown, made from acontinuous piece of suitable material of uniform section and thickness,e.g., metal, plastic. This support hook 40 has a standard ‘hook’ 43 atthe top and continues downwards to form a vertical coil 45, similar inshape to a corkscrew, and ending at the base in a ‘pommel’ 44. Thehanger 41 does not require any kind of layering or recesses within themain hanger body, and may be solid. The hanger 41 may be created, minusan integrated support hook, but with a series of apertures A, B, C, D,E, F configured in two vertically aligned rows, A, C, E, and B, D, F,parallel to each other, but ‘staggered’ so that one row—B, D, F, is setat a lower level than the other A, C, E, with the vertical distancebetween the apertures being equal on both sides. Next, the support hook40, at the lower, or ‘pommel’ 44 end of the ‘coil’ 45 is first passedthrough the aperture A closest to the top of the hanger 41, and the hook40 turned around its vertical axis, so that it effects a downward spiralmovement, in the manner of a corkscrew. Turning the hook 40 furtheraround the vertical axis will cause the lower end pommel 44 to enter theaperture B across from, and slightly lower than the first A, andcontinue, if the turning is sustained, to the next aperture C on theother side, set again, slightly lower than the aperture B it has justpassed through. In this embodiment, there may be six apertures A, B, C,D, E, F and the pommel 44 will come to rest (FIG. 45) after it haspassed through the last aperture F, providing a strong and rigid supportfor the hanger 41. The number of apertures will be determined bywhatever design is adopted.

FIG. 46 shows a single piece of material 46 in a format comprising anumber of ‘blades’ 19R-25R, and 19L-25L, all of which emanate from acentral panel 18× from the narrow end of the blades 19R-25R, and19L-25L, the said inner end remaining attached to the central panel 18Xby a series of perforations and partial cuts. All of the blades 19R-25R,and 19L-25L, have a cleared out strip, G-G, H-H, I-I, J-J, K-K, L-L,M-M, N-N, O-O, P-P, Q-Q, R-R running almost the full length of theblade, except in the case of the two narrowest top blades 19R, 20R, 19L,20L, where the strips G-G, H-H cleared out are very short, with the topblades 19R, 20R, 19L, 20L, closing the shoulder-pieces 18 at the top,creating a stronger enclosed unit. The central panel 18X is crossed atvarious points by fold perforations A-A, B-B, C-C, D-D, E-E, F-F, whichwhen the whole form 18 is folded in the manner of a concertina or“Z-fold”, as in FIGS. 47, 48, the blades 19R-25R, and 19L-25L, all lieon top of one another, in diminishing size to create a contoured form asshown in FIG. 49. In FIG. 49 also, the ‘Z-folded’ central column 18Xlies in two sections attached on either side of the shoulder pieces 18,and in FIG. 50, the pieces 18X are broken, or cut off along the partialcuts and perforations by which they remained attached along the centralcolumn 18X. Shoulder pieces if this type are shown in FIGS. 51, 52. Whenthe form 18 is glued, pinned or attached in this way the cleared outstrips G-G, H-H, I-I, J-J, K-K, L-L, M-M, N-N, O-O, P-P, O-O, R-Rsynchronise on top of each other to form a gutter A-A, B-B as shown inthe view from beneath in FIGS. 53, 54, into which the top-edge of ahanger 48 may be inserted, to provide the hanger 48 with contouredshoulder pieces 46R, 46L.

Multiple unit production may be achieved (FIG. 57) using sheets 49, 50,51 with a number of panels 209L-301L & 209R-301R cut out from them, andeither laid on top of one another (FIG. 58) and glued, or where eachsheet may be part of a larger sheet which is folded according to thenumber of layers required. Profiles of each layer 209L-301L & 209R-301Rare cut out from the sheets 49, 50, 51 but left in situ by small piecesof material or ‘nicks’ to hold the panels 209L-301L & 209R-301R in placewhich in this example are set out in twos, alternating across the samesheet 49 in one top layer 209R and one bottom layer 209L, and which maybe arranged in close-proximity in rows with the panels of the base layer209L, 301R set as close as possible to the panels from a top layer 209R,301L. Each successive sheet will build both upwards from the base layer209L, 301R, and downwards from the top layers 209R, 301L panels whichdiminish in size until the top panel 209R, 301L is reached, while thosetop panels 209R, 301L will have panels of an increasing size dropped ontop until the base layers 209L, 301R are reached. FIG. 58 shows aperspective of this configuration, while FIG. 37 shows as dotted linesthe sheets 49, 50, 51 as they would be configured in plan view. Thismethod may be more economic with the use of material. The finished unitswould simply pushed out of the configured sheets when completed FIG. 60shows a set of three-layer completed shoulder-pieces comprising thelayers 209L-301L & 209R-301R.

1-22. (canceled)
 23. A clothes hanger comprising two planar elementstogether defining a hanger shape for suspending a garment, at least oneof the planar elements having an opening, an indicating element andmovable into a position, retained between the planar elements, in whichposition at least one marking on the indicating element is visiblethrough said opening.
 24. A clothes hanger according to claim 23,wherein the indicating element bears a plurality of different markingsand may be movable into different such positions in which a differentone or ones of the markings is or are visible through one or moreapertures.
 25. A clothes hanger according to claim 24, wherein theindicating element is arranged to move in a circular or horizontalmovement to reveal sections of the information inscribed on it throughone or more apertures.
 26. A clothes hanger according to claim 25,wherein the indicating element is insertable between the planar elementsthrough a hole in one of said elements.
 27. A clothes hanger accordingto claim 25, wherein the indicating element is insertable between theplanar elements through a gap between said elements at the edge of thehanger.
 28. A clothes hangar having a main part of substantially planarform and including shoulder pieces each having a curved outer shell andat least one internal rib arranged transverse to the main part, anindent in one of the ribs and the main part engaging with the other ofthe ribs and the main part.
 29. A clothes hanger according to claim 28,including a plurality of such ribs, at least one rib nearer a shoulderend of the shoulder piece being longer than a rib further from saidshoulder end.
 30. A shoulder piece for attaching to a substantiallyplanar clothes hanger, the shoulder piece comprising at least onesubstantially planar sheet arranged to lie on one side of the hangertransversely to the hanger, and having an engaging formation forengaging the hanger.
 31. A shoulder piece according to claim 30, whereinthe engaging formation comprises a slot adapted to receive an upper edgeof the hanger.
 32. A shoulder piece according to claim 30, wherein theengaging formation comprises a tab cut out from the shoulder piece andengaging a slot in the hanger.
 33. A shoulder piece according to claim30, including cuts or slots allowing the assumption of a shapecorresponding to a shoulder.
 34. A shoulder piece according to claim 33,wherein the cuts or slots extend generally radially as far as theperiphery of a shoulder part of the shoulder piece.
 35. A shoulder pieceaccording to claim 30, comprising a plurality of planar sheets ofsimilar shape but of sequentially increasing size, with a smallest sheetat a top of the shoulder piece and a largest sheet at a bottom thereof.36. A pair of shoulder pieces, each according to claim 30, said shoulderpieces being joined together at a narrow end of each of the shoulderpieces to from a combined unit for fitting over both sides of a hanger.37. A hook for suspending a clothes hanger that includes at least onethrough hole, the hook being formed from a continuous length of materialthat has an upper hook portion and a lower curved portion arranged toextend through the at least one through hole in a generally horizontaldirection.